VOCABULARY BOOST: MAKE VERSUS DO

The use of MAKE or DO can be very confusing for language learners, especially those who speak Spanish as a native language because for them MAKE and DO can both be directly translated to the same source, (Hacer). It is much easier to learn the difference between MAKE and DO if you think of it in a different way and as coming from a different route.

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DO:

General – do something, do nothing, do everything

Work – do a job, do some work, do a project, do some paperwork

Education – do an assignment, do an essay, do a drawing, do your homework, do an exam

Realize an action ´LLEVAR A CABO´- do time, do a service, do well, do badly Behavioural features – do your best, do your worst, do excellently

 

MAKE:

Create – make a speech, make time for something, make something up

Prepare – make a meal, make an excuse, make a fuss

Build/construct – make a sandcastle, make a model

Produce – make wine, make cheese, made in Spain

Fabricate – make cars, make robots, make computers

Money – make a profit, make money, make a treaty, make an agreement, make a deal

 

As we have metioned in other posts on vocabulary (HERE), it is much easier to remember new vocabulary as a short phrase. You should put these phrases into context frequently and make sure you learn them that way.

Another thing that we have mentioned before is the use of mnemonics (HERE) to help us remember. This can be something as simple as associating a specific form or word with a colour, a shape or an image. This way you will remember with a lot more ease.

 

We generally use MAKE IN THESE SITUATIONS:

 

PLANS:

We are going to make some arrangements for the weekend.

Have you made a plan for the summer yet?

 

SPEAKING:

Is the baby ok? He isn’t making any noise and that is strange he normally makes a gurgling sound when he eats.

My boss made some nice comments about the project I handed in last week.

 

PROVOKING A REACTION:

I love the movie, ´In the pursuit of happiness´ it always makes me laugh and cry at the same time. It is a great film!

When I go for a run and it is cold, it makes my eyes water.

MAKE can also be used as a synonym of obligate to /force to. For instance: My father MADE me clean the car. The teacher MADE me rewrite the assignment. CAREFUL: You also need to understand the difference between DO the verb and DO the auxiliary verb. DO you like listening to music? DO in this sentence is not the verb do, it is an auxiliary and should not be confused with MAKE.

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Expressions with MAKE:

• the bed
• a bet
• a cake
• a call
• a change
• a choice
• a comment
• a complaint
• a confession
• a connection
• a cup of tea or coffee
• a date
• a decision
• a demand
• a/the difference
• a discovery
• a drink
• a face
• a fool of yourself
• a fortune
• a friend
• a fuss
• a joke
• a line
• a list
• a living
• a loss
• a mess
• a mistake
• an error
• a noise
• a phone call
• a plan
• a point
• a prediction
• a profit
• a promise
• a squeek
• a reservation
• a sandwich
• a scene
• a sound
• a speech
• a statement
• a suggestion
• advances
• alterations
• an appointment
• an announcement
• an attempt
• an effort
• an escape
• an exception
• an excuse
• an impression
• amends for something
• an observation
• an offer
• amends
• arrangements
• breakfast
• certain
• clear
• dinner
• faces
• famous
• fun of someone
• love
• lunch
• inquiries
• peace
• possible
• progress
• money
• room
• sales
• sense
• someone rich
• someone smile
• sure
• trouble
• war
• your bed
• your mind up
• your way

 

MAKE can also be used as a noun. For example: What is the make of your car? I like your trainers, what make are they? In this context make is in reference to the brand. For example, the make of my car is Toyota. The make of my trainers is Adidas.

 

 

Expressions with DO:

• a good job
• time
• a burp
• a course
• an essay
• a crossword
• a dance
• a drawing
• a fart
• a favor / favour
• do gymnastics
• do judo
• do karate
• do yoga
• do taekwondo
• a job
• a painting
• a project
• a service
• an assignment
• anything
• badly
• business
• chores
• damage
• everything
• exercises
• good
• excelently
• harm
• nothing
• research
• right (the right thing)
• something
• the dishes
• the gardening
• the housework
• the ironing
• the laundry
• the rest
• the shopping
• the washing
• the washing-up
• time (go to prison)
• well
• work
• wrong (the wrong thing)
• your worst
• your best
• your hair
• your homework
• your job
• your nails
• your work

 

In summary:

MAKE = PREPARE, PRODUCE, FABRICATE, BUILD, CREATE

 Prepare: I am making the dinner, I made a cake

Produce: Spain makes a lot of wine, A lot of cheese is made in the region

Fabricate: The factory makes cars, Made in Spain

Build: We are going to make a sandcastle

Create: Don’t make excuses, we enjoy making speeches

 

DO = GENERAL, WORK, EDUCATION, HOUSEWORK, SPORT (NO BALL)

 General: Do something, do nothing, do everything

Work: do a job, do some work, do a project

Education: do a course, do your homework, do an essay

Housework: do the cleaning, do the washing, do the washing up

IRREGULAR FORM = MAKE THE BED

Sport: do judo, do yoga, do gymnastics, do karate